What is the most important information I should know about temazepam?
Never take this medicine if you do not have at least 7 to 8 hours to sleep before being active again.
Do not use if you are pregnant. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while taking temazepam.
Some people using this medicine have engaged in activity and later had no memory of the activity. If this happens to you, tell your doctor right away.
Fatal side effects can occur if you take temazepam with alcohol, with opioid medicine, or with other drugs that cause drowsiness or slow your breathing.
Temazepam may be habit-forming. Misuse can cause addiction, overdose, or death.
What is temazepam?
Temazepam is a benzodiazepine (ben-zoe-dye-AZE-eh-peen).
Temazepam is used to treat insomnia symptoms, such as trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
Temazepam may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking temazepam?
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to temazepam or to other benzodiazepines (alprazolam, Xanax, Valium, or others).
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- lung disease or breathing problems;
- depression or mental illness;
- suicidal thoughts; or
- drug or alcohol addiction.
Do not use temazepam if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby or cause birth defects. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine.
If you use temazepam while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on habit-forming medicine may need medical treatment for several weeks.
It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risk.
Temazepam is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.
How should I take temazepam?
Follow the directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides. Never use temazepam in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Tell your doctor if you feel an increased urge to use more of this medicine.
Temazepam may be habit-forming. Misuse can cause addiction, overdose, or death. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law.
You should not even share this medicine with another person who has the same symptoms you have.
Take temazepam only when you are getting ready for several hours of sleep. You may fall asleep very quickly after taking the medicine.
Do not take temazepam unless you are able to get a full night's sleep before you must be active again.
This medicine can affect the results of certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using temazepam.
Temazepam should be used for only a short time to treat insomnia. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 7 to 10 nights of treatment, or if this medicine seems to stop working as well in helping you fall asleep and stay asleep.
Do not stop using temazepam suddenly after long-term use, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using this medicine.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep track of your medicine. You should be aware if anyone is using it improperly or without a prescription.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Never take temazepam if you do not have at least 7 to 8 hours to sleep before being active again. Do not take two doses at one time.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of temazepam can be fatal, especially if taken with alcohol. Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, confusion, or loss of consciousness and coma.
What should I avoid while taking temazepam?
Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you. Dizziness or drowsiness can cause falls, accidents, or severe injuries.
Do not drink alcohol while you are taking temazepam.
Do not share this medicine with another person, even if they have the same symptoms you have.
What are the possible side effects of temazepam?
Temazepam may cause a severe allergic reaction. Stop taking temazepam and get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; nausea, vomiting; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Some people using this medicine have engaged in activity such as walking, driving, eating, having sex, or making phone calls and later had no memory of the activity. If this happens to you, tell your doctor right away.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- confusion, agitation, hostility, hallucinations;
- anxiety, memory problems;
- depressed mood; or
- thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself.
The sedative effects of temazepam may last longer in older adults. Accidental falls are common in elderly patients who take benzodiazepines.
Common side effects may include:
- day-time drowsiness or "hangover" feeling;
- headache;
- dizziness, tiredness;
- nausea; or
- feeling nervous.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect temazepam?
Taking temazepam with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous side effects or death. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures.
Other drugs may affect temazepam, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about temazepam.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
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